Elastic wheel



Mar. 6, 1923.

M. J- ARCE ELASTIC WHEEL Mar. 6, 1923. 1,447,291-

Y M. J. ARCE Filed May 3, `1920 8 sheets-sheet 2 Mar. 6, 1923. 1,447,291

M. .1. ARCE ELASTICWHEEL Filed May 3, 1920 8 sheets-sheet M. J. ARCE ELASTIC WHEEL Mar. 6, 1923.

Mar. 6, 1923. l 1,447,291

` M. J. ARCE ELASTIC WHEEL 8 sheets-sheet 6 M. L ARCE BLASTIG WHEEL' Mar. 6, 1923.

Filed May 3, 1920 8 sheets-sheet 8 Patented Mar. 6, 1923.

MANUEL-.iosa Ancnor BUENOS,einnsfanennrma nLAsrro WHEEL.

Application filed May `3,l 1920. Serial No. 378,699.

To all whom tvmayvconcem Be it known that l', M'Aivnnn Josn Anon,

elastic wheels for automobiles, motorcycles,y

bicycles, railway and Decauville rolling stock, and the like, carts, coaches and all classes of animal or mechanical traction vehicles. The invention comprises two springs mounted on the bushing of the axle of the wheeheach comprising one orV more circular lea-ves or elastic disks arranged symmetrically relative to the plane of the wheel normal to the axle, and concentric with the latter; being subjected to a stress in the direction or" the axle, which tends to bring/them together exerting a pressure on both faces of a rim, wedge-shaped in its cross-section 4ln certain cases the rim constitutes the tyre of thevwheel, and Jfor this purpose its outer cylindrical surface is covered with a suitable material in order to avoid the trepidation in rolling, in the case of a coach, automobile, etc.; orv it may be of a suitable material and shape in the case of railway, Decauville `and other rolling stock.' In other cases, the rim is interposed between the tyre andthe axle, the rirst two mentioned part-s being united by the spokes of the wheel. v y Both springs,consisting of the same vnum,-

ber of leaves or disks of the same elastic strength, are arranged concentrically on either side of therim, holding both faces of the same, which, as already stated,- are 40 wedge-shaped in cross section relative to a plane normal to that of the wheel, ypassing through the axle.` The pressure exerted 'by the springs on the faces of the rim is ap` plied in the direction of the axle of the wheel, with the aid of a nut placedon a part concentric with same, which serves as a bushing, anden' which are mountedthe disks which constitute eaohfspring,vso that the disks may slide-on it lengthwise 'of the axle, toward or laway from each other, sub- `iecting both faces of the rim to a more or less strong pressure. l

The springs can slide lengthwise of thev axle, in order to exert pressure o n both faces of the rim, but' theycannot vrotate'on the bushing. and'to this end rtheflatterf is v importance.

provided with -our ribsk which engage, a similar vnumber 'of grooves vformed "in the disks which constitute the springs,l yand which guide their movement lengthwise of 50 the axle. 'y y i v'Vihen it is of no importance whethera i change occurs .or not inthe position 'ot the plane of symmetry ofthe wheel normal to the axle, the'pressure or" the springs is 65 obtained by the aid of'a nut placed in the rimv and in the outer face ofthe wheel. This occurs in automobiles, coaches, Vete., in which a slight variation of the` gauge is not of On the other hand,lwhen it is not possible to vary the gauge, it being indispensable that the plane of symmetry of the wheel remain unvaried, as occurs in railway, Decauville and similar rolling stock', the pres- 75 sure vis obtained bythe aid of two symmetrical nuts mounted on either side ot the wheel` at the ends of the bushing. 'Each nut must be moved forward the same distance in 'order to exert the same pressure on 50 each spring. i'

The' rim being arranged concentriically withthe two springs which'exert pressure on its faces, it will be evident that if` the wheel, when rolling, me-etsl an obstruction which will produce a dynamic action opposed to thatcau'sed by the gravity of the load', the rim will be displaced .upwardly andthe wedge yformed by both faces of salme, is yintroduced between both spring, which will yield vto a Icertain ext-ent, but only to react immediately, expellingy thewedge until` the rim assumes its original position, once the` dynamic eli'ect has 'disappeared During the displacement oit' the'rim,fa'nd .while 95 the action of the wedge and the reaction of the springs is taking place, the axle tends to maintain its position, and the ydynamicactin produced by the obstructionv Vwill be perceptible `on the axle in inverseratio to the sensitiveness of the springs. The rim is united toV the axle of the wheel by means of aacircularfplate mounted .on the bushing between the two( springs, andwhichewith its periphery lodged in a groove formed fin the innerV cylindrical face of' the rim., or vice-versa-guides' and limits its movement.

The central plateslideswith the springs on thebush'ing, when the, gauge lis variable;- v and Vis "'xedto the bushing, as the axleV is 110 keyed tothe same, whenV the gauge mustbe invariable@ ln?k thisV latter f case,^-the Y"plate iXed to the bushing prevents the springs from varying the width of the gauge on exerting pressure on therrim, since the rim being united to the plate by the groove, as lateral displacementl can only oecurftogcther with the plate.

A convenient way of carrying into practice a system oi elastic wheels, according to this invention, will be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 represents a section oa-n automobile wheel with springs consisting oli` a sin gle diskv or flat circular leaf with a single pressure nut on the exterior face, the tyre consisting of the rim proper cove ed with a band ci rubber. rilhe central circular plate which guides the movement oit the rim, tits in the groove 'formed in the inner cylindrical 'tace ot' the latter.

Fig. 2 is a side View olf Figure 1, showing in section the axle and the bushing with the tour flanges on which the disks ot the springs slide lengthwise of the axle oit the wheel.

Fig. 8 is a section of a wheel of a vehicle in which it is necessary to maintain the plane ot' symmetry normal to the axle, to which end it has two pressure nuts, one on each side, screwed onto both ends oi2 bushing.

Figs. 1, 5 and 6 are views similar to the three preceding` ones, respectively, with the difference that in this case each spring consists of two disks or flat circular leaves, the axle is keyed on to the busliiiig as shown in Figs. and 9, and in the latter the rim which serves as a tyre has the shape ot the wheels of railway, Deeauville and other similar rolling stock.

Figs. 10, 11 and 12- illustrate the same sections and views as Figures 1, 2 and 3, but in this case each spring is formed by a circular leat oi frusto-conical suri'ace in its central part and fiat at the periphery; the rim is tree and its displacements are subject to the action of the springs; it being solid in cross-section and not hollow as in the former figures.

Figures 13, 14 and 15 are views similar to the aforesaid, each spring consisting oiya truste-conical leaf with radial cuts to make it elastic. The rim, in this case, presents on its inner face a circular rib which engages in a groove formed in the central circular plate. 1n Figure 15 the axle is keyed to the bushing.

Figs. 16, 17 and 18 show the same sections and views as in the preceding figures, the springs in this case consisting oi" the combination of a circularelastic leaf of truste-- conical surface in its centre and flat at its periphery, as shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12, and another one alsofcircular and'irustow conical with radial cuts to give it elasticity,

shown in Figs. 18, 14e and 15. in Fig. 18 the axle is keyed to the bushing, and the rim, which is hollow, has the saine section as the tyre oi a railway, Decauville or similar wheel, with its corresponding flange.

Figures 19, 2O and 21 are views similar to those of Figs. 13, 14% and 15, the springs being formed of one circular flat elastic leat and another frusto-conical with radial cuts.y

The axle is keyed to the bushing as shcwi'i in Figs. 19 and 21.

Figs. 22 and 28 are a section opt a coach. cart er other wheel, of large diameter. and a side view of by the springs is connected to the tyre by the spokes of the wheel.

ln the different igures of the accompany ine` drawings, 1 indicates the axle et the wheel, which enters the bushing 2, provided on the outside with ribs 3. Mounted on the bushingv are: in the centre, the circular plate el which guides the displacement of the rim engaging in the groove 6: at either sidey elr the plate 1i, the springs consisting of disks or flat circular elastic leaves 7 which. 'with the portions placed further away liroin the centre, hol. the faces '8 of 'the rim 5, either side et the springs, the circular id truste-conical pieces 9 which transmit AYo the springs the pressure ci nuts 10 and locking mits 11, screwed on to the bushing 2.

The rim in some cases, is solid as in Fig- .i 1 and 12, and in other cases its cenion 12 is hollow.v ln Figures 1, 16, 19 22 the axle is fixed to the falling bj; the threaded washer 13 and cotin lei, and when the wheel is a traction wheel, the joint is secured by means oit' key l5. 1n Fig res 9 and 18 the rim 5 has the form ci? the rcs o?? railway, Decauville and other similar wheels, with the corresponding 'flange 16. In the remaining liguresit has a rubber band 17. ln Figures 10, 11 and v12 the rim is tree, and its displacement is radi.- ally limited by the pulley 18.

ln Figs. 13 to 23 the rim has on its inner circular face a circular rib v19 which engages in the groove 2O formed in the central circular plate 4.

In Figs. 10, 11 and 12 the springs are termed by circular elastic leaves 21 trusteconical in the centre and iiat at vthe periphery.

ln Figs. 13, 111 and 15v the `springs are "Formed by elastic truste-conical leaves 22 with radial cuts to give them elasticity.

ln Figs. 16, 17, 18, 22 and. 23 the springs are formed by the combination of leaves 21 and 22. y

In Figs. 19, 2O and 21 the springs are Jformed by the combination of leaves 7 and 22. y

In Fi 10 te 23 the parts 9 which trans# mit the pressure of nuts 10 and lock-nuts 11 to the springs, are circular and flat.

para n saine. The rim acted upon lll() and the latter has a rubbei` band y17.

Once the different parts have beenfconveniently prepared, axle l is introduced into the bushing 2, securing same with the ring 13 and cotter pin let; on the bushing one ot the trusto-conical pieces 9 is mounted, sliding it over the ribs until meeting one ot the ianges of the bushing, or the nut 10 oit' one end; then a spring consisting' of one or more flat circular elastic leaves 7 or a combination of these with the elastic leaves 2l or 2Q, is

mounted; immediately after, the central circular plate el mounted in the rim 5 is introduced and slided along the bushinguntil face 8 contacts with the spring already placed; then the other spring is mounted, consisting of the saine number and class ot elastic leaves as the former, and symmetrically arranged, bringing it nearer until it contacts with the other face 8 of the rim 5; then the other rigid frusto-conical piece is introduced making it bear against the latter spring; nut l0 is then screwed on and secured by lock-nut 11 which covers ring 13 and cotter pin 14:.

The pressure to be exertedl by the nut on the springs, must be limited to counten balance the action oi' the weight of the vehicle, which tends to introduce between them the wedge of the rim in all its extension, in such a way that Athei'e will be an ample margin to allow 'for the movement or play of the wedge within the springs, in order to absorb the dynamic eifect set up when the wheel passes over any obstacle whatsoever.

Once assembled in the manner described, t-he wheel will be ready for service.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is zl. An elastic wheel comprising in combination, an axle and a bushing thereon with four angeson `the outer surface,and mounted loosely upon the latter, two springs, each composed of elastic disks having radial cuts to give them greater elasf 4av 'i ticity; and between both springs mounted on the said axle, a circular plate the periphery of which engages and slides in a plane normal to the axle, within a groove furnished in the cylindrical interior part of a crown having a wedge-form section, held between both springs, which exercise a uniform pressure on the lateral' faces which form a wedge,

submitted to a Strain inthe direction of an v axis by the help of nuts and locknuts screwed upon the bushing, returning 'theY crown tol a concentric position in relation to the former, if on passing over an obstacle of any kind it should be momentarily decen-v tralized by the dynamic strain developed, introducing the wedge between both springs.

2. In avehiclewheel, a circular plate, a rim having an annular groove on its inner side in which said plate is mounted for eccentric movement, said rim also having inclined inwardly converging'faces, a bushing to receive an axle, said bushing lextending .70

through a central opening with which the circular plate is provided, spring discsy bearing at their peripheries against the inclined` l faces of the rim and having central openings through which the bushing extends, pressure transmitting member movable on thebush ing and bearing againstthe outer sides ot'- the spring discs, and means also on the bushing to applypressure to the pressure trans- .y

mittingmembers. Signed at Buenos Aires, Argentine Republic, this 26th day of March A. D. 1920.

MANUEL JOSE ARCE.' Witnesses: i

A. UROMAL,

J. H. MAHER. 

